Residents Seek Urgent Intervention As Alakoso Road In Lagos Deteriorates
Residents and business owners along Alakoso Avenue in the Mile 2 area of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State have appealed to the Lagos State Government to urgently rehabilitate the road, describing its deplorable condition as a major threat to lives, businesses and daily commuting.
The road, which links Ijesha Express on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway to Festac Link Road, has become severely damaged over the years, with deep gullies and blocked drainage channels making it difficult for motorists and pedestrians to use, especially during the rainy season.
Residents said the road, originally constructed in the early 1980s during the administration of the late Governor Lateef Jakande, has received little attention despite serving as an important alternative route connecting several residential estates and commercial hubs.
A business owner in the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, attributed the road’s deterioration to years of neglect and the heavy movement of articulated trucks that frequently used the route when traffic gridlock on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway was at its peak.
According to him, apart from the construction of a connecting link road during the administration of former Governor Babatunde Fashola, the road has not undergone any significant rehabilitation.
He added that repeated appeals to successive administrations had yielded no tangible results, while the local government had consistently maintained that the road falls under the responsibility of the state government.
Another resident and businessman, Kunle, blamed the poor state of the drainage system for worsening the road’s condition, noting that regular clearing of drainage channels could have slowed its deterioration.
He urged both the state and local governments to intervene before the road becomes completely impassable.
During a visit to the area, residents and volunteers were seen carrying out temporary repairs by filling potholes with stones and clearing blocked drains in an effort to improve access.
Community members said the intervention is being funded by a few companies and individuals operating within the area, but stressed that the palliative measures are insufficient to address the scale of the damage.
They also lamented that the poor condition of the road has negatively affected businesses, with some companies reportedly shutting down due to accessibility challenges.
Commercial motorcycle rider Johnson Adeyinka said the bad road had significantly reduced passenger traffic and income for transport operators, adding that trailers occasionally break down on the route, further disrupting movement.
Similarly, tricycle operator Babatunde James said vehicle maintenance costs had increased considerably as operators frequently repair damage caused by the failed road.
Businesswoman Alhaja Taiwo Ogungbo also expressed concern over declining patronage, saying the poor state of the road has discouraged customers and affected sales.
Although efforts to speak with the chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government were unsuccessful, a source at the council secretariat disclosed that the newly elected chairman had already appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for intervention.
The source expressed optimism that reconstruction work on the road would commence after the rainy season, noting that drainage construction on adjoining roads had already begun but was temporarily suspended due to heavy rainfall.
Residents, however, urged the government to expedite action, warning that continued neglect of the road could further disrupt economic activities and worsen the hardship faced by commuters and businesses in the area.
